Ride to Kruger

Our long day drive to Kruger National Park was certainly not a boring one.  Though long we did get a great overview of the SA countryside.  Much of the land that was formerly growing tobacco has been transformed into growing almost everything else, especially citrus.  We drove past miles and miles of orange, grapefruit, banana, avocado, olive farms not to mention macadamia plantations that would rival Hawaii.

Traveling off the main roads we viewed many of the Afrikaner towns which still show the past by their beautiful architecture, style and of course the names. 

Much of the drive gave us breathtaking views of the rocky Klein Drakenburg escarpment with the beautiful canyons and cliffs, forests and stupendous waterfall. 

Stopping at Bourkes Luck Potholes at the mouth of the Blyde River Canyon gave us not only a chance to stretch our legs but a few of those unused calf muscles.  A long way down and an equally long way up.

A school group greeted us.  They all seem to love
 having their picture taken

The beautiful gorge

Our final stop was at a vista to view God's window.  It is so named from the notion that if God had a window to look out of, this is what he would see.  Unfortunately it gets very hazy by late afternoon.

The view from God's Window

No road stop would be complete without some
retail therapy.  This one at the window.

Bananas growing along the road

Bob was totally enamored with this...a lock on the TP

Looked like lilacs but had no smell yet
and no one knew for sure.

Arrived at our hotel, The Protea Winkler.  We have stayed at 3 Protea Hotels so far, with many more coming.  We are told they are part of the Marriott chain and we couldn’t be more pleased.  Everyone is a 4 star accommodation that offers good food and comfy beds. OK so we are used to king sized bed…No worries (Makuma matada) they just push the 2 twins together and we each have plenty of room with no blanket stealing. AHHHHHH!  Good nite.